What is the easiest way to remember your 12 major scales?

Question

What techniques or methods can I use....any free resources that I can use to remember, I want to become a band director and I really have to know these things...

Answer 1

you'll need to know more than just these... ☺

There are many methods but the way that worked best for me and also helps with other things later is this:

1) learn every major key signature. Ab has 4 flats, F has one flat, G has one sharp, etc... Know them cold. [you'll use this later for your minors and modes as well so may as well learn it now.] Flash cards work for this one. You have to "just know it" - Bb major has 2 flats.

When you know that, you know every single major scale on every single instrument (once you learn to play the other instruments). F major starts on F and is in the key of F (one flat and the flat is Bb) - F G A Bb C D E F it's just that simple.

The advantage is that you don't then have to relearn to know all of the minors. The relative minor key of each major is the 6th step of the major scale. Working with F, the 6th step is D; if we start on D but play in the key of F - we're playing D natural minor. D E F G A Bb C D (aolian mode)

We can apply the major scales to modes as well. If we play F major scale but flatten the 7th step (F G A Bb C D Eb F) we have an F mixolydian scale. If we play the F major scale and sharpen the 4th step (F G A B C D E F) we have an F lydian scale. Cool and useful stuff.

So the first step is to memorize all of the key signatures so that you have immediate recall and then know that all major scales start on the tonic pitch in the key and just go up from there. D major scale starts on D in the key of D major (2 sharps) and is D E F# G A B C# D

It doesn't hurt to know the mechanics of scale construction (1 1 1/2 1 1 1 1/2) in steps or any other methods; but learning them by key signature has the most use later and you have to learn the key signatures anyway.

For a list of all the key signatures - any google search of "Circle of Fifths" will give you a nice chart like this one http://www.maxhammondphotos.org.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/circle-of-fifths.gif print it and memorize it.

Answer 2

Repetition repetition repetition.